Comments on: Pushing Past Pain to Improve Performancehttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/
Tara Parker-Pope on HealthFri, 13 Mar 2015 10:35:21 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/NytSectionHeader.gifNYThttp://www.nytimes.com
By: Wendy Tittelhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-631571
Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:46:16 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-631571Funny, I came across this article while searching for more info on interval training. I did my first Peak 8 session this morning and really had to work to push through the last few high-intensity intervals. Whoa. I’m recovered and feel good no, but the intensity was a big change for me. I wrote/posted video about Day 1 on my blog…

]]>By: Marie, Hobarthttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-604391
Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:23:16 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-604391i have learned to push through the pain. What has been much harder is to learn to know when to back off, given that, with this conditioning, I can no longer recognise pain/fatigue as a signal to do so. Result: multiple episodes of overuse injury.

Pushing through pain is by no means what separates the champions from the rest of us. They also have the biomechanics and the physiology.

]]>By: D Wardhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-598415
Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:24:38 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-598415I’d like to see this same sort of analysis on people who have the self-control to maintain a skinny figure.
]]>By: Jennifer Whttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-594059
Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:19:50 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-594059While I agree that some individuals are certainly more inclined to have better athletic performance, I don’t agree that this inclination is what separates super-athletes from regular fitness enthusiasts. Mental fortitude is often a skill that can be practiced rather than in inborn quality. I started training for my first race using a simple iTunes app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/personal-running-trainer/id368033565?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4) and was able to transform myself into a real runner and athlete. Just can’t agree with this article, 100%.
]]>By: Scott Kirkpatrickhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-593195
Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:00:09 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-593195For young athletes, pushing through is even a more complicated issue. It is more than competition it is about the right balance to achieve and be successful. Why do some achieve their dreams while others struggle but not due to a lack of effort or focus.

Olympic Games Gold Medalist Joey Cheek addresses these issues and more at his facebook page DreamsofGoldWeekend.

]]>By: 4minMarkhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-590917
Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:49:47 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-590917Great article, I’ve noticed that I can run for longer if i get the mental side down, it really helps to run through the pain.

I’m not doing marathons yet but running a few kms every day and running some sprints (i am aiming to run a sub 4min Mile, if you like i keep a blog about it at http://www.4minMark.com)

]]>By: Lucy Rogershttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-589421
Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:33:31 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-589421The best help to prevent the pain before the race is to alternate your outdoor training with indoor training. I do one day of treadmill workout (www.itrain.com/workout/70) and one day of elliptical (www.itrain.com/workout/244). Then after a day of rest, I do run outside my normal marathon training race.
]]>By: Janehttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-589099
Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:48:37 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-589099I think the type of “pain” this article is referring to needs to be clarified. The pain that runners experience during a race is generally lactic acid build-up in the muscles due to anaerobic activity. This pain is much different from an injury and feels different. Elite runners have enough experience with this type of pain to know that it’s not going to do any lasting damage.
]]>By: Nancyhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-589009
Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:40:21 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-589009I “ran through the pain” as a 5 mile a day runner until my left knee suffered permanent nerve damage, which made it impossible to run more than 100 feet without excruciating electrical pain running up an down my left left leg. Running was a real psychological benefit for me.I was frankly addicted.

I have replaced running outdoors with other aerobic exercise but nothing will match running through beautiful trees, along lakes, etc.

Take care of yourself and don’t ignore what your body is telling you. At least get the pain checked out to insure that it isn’t a sign of incipient damage to a joint which will permanently prevent you from running. Or, something that will kill you.

]]>By: Brucehttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588821
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:31:52 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588821Nice article. Especially interesting were the comments on association when running.
]]>By: Scotthttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588775
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:12:03 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588775The article needs to consider the possible damaging effects of pushing through pain. You could find plenty of normal people and pro athletes who pushed themselves too hard and now live with chronic pain, arthritis, and all sorts of ailments.
]]>By: Colensohttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588725
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:25:51 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588725I think most posters need to get a grip. We’re not talking about cluster headache here or other types of excruciating pain.

Rather, this is about temporarily ignoring or overcoming intense discomfort in order to achieve a goal.

Highly paid competitors are motivated to try very hard because their livelihood depends on it.

I could try as hard as I liked, and not only is it most unlikely that I would ever beat Haile Gebrselassie in a marathon, it’s unlikely that I would even see him in the distance, assuming your typical start with the slower runners starting further back.

But, yes, in my day I have tried quite hard to win races that I was capable of winning. Nothing like being for a short while a big fish in small pond to give oneself dreams of victory.

Likewise, most of us could make a much greater than usual effort to overcome intense discomfort, and in extremis even pain, if we were sufficiently motivated – to escape otherwise certain death; to save someone we loved; to win a lot of money or great renown.

It’s also true that most folks are most of the time prone to give up at the slightest discomfort: this applies, however, just as much to learning physics as it does to training hard for a competitive event.

Average folk are average for a good reason. We lead average lives and we make an average effort.

Could we try harder? Of course! But then we wouldn’t be average.

]]>By: Jeremyhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588707
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:56:30 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588707I think this ability to push through can be learned by non-pro athletes as well. Can one form a habit of this mental tenacity and also be in tune with listening to his or her body? I think our bodies are constantly sending us messages. Very interesting info..when I was NY recently I had put on my game face as I joined a Speedball Fitness class for the time at Equinox…yikes! Talk about pushing through in a fun and almost entertrainment sort of way..
]]>By: Ellyhttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588687
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:44:25 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588687The last time I pushed past the pain during a grueling physical endeavor, full of pride in myself for having “what it took,” was the last time I was able to undertake an endeavor of that character. It turned out that the pain was telling me that I was doing what’s turned out to be irreparable damage to my joints. If that made me a champion, it was a fleeting triumph — now and evermore, I can guarantee that the “mortals” will outlast me painlessly every time.
]]>By: P. Jenningshttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/comment-page-2/#comment-588679
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:40:05 +0000http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/pushing-past-pain-to-improve-performance/#comment-588679Is there some benefit from runners – elite or not – some benefit to the public, or some way of providing a ‘public good,’ that escapes me?

Otherwise, these elites – however good they may be – are just all about me, me, me. Incredibly self-centered.

I know one of them, a woman. She is a really nice person, basically. Ran marathons at first. Then ultra marathons, including the Marathon des Sables across the desert. Now is doing IronMan.

She understands how self-centered it is, and she has humility about it. When she is around ordinary people, she tries to adjust her talk and her thinking.

The writer of this story? Humility? Not so much. Well, not at all from this vantage point. Maybe you can find someone with a more global perspective; that is, without the centered-on-self attitude which always shows through.